Complesso di via in Arcione, Underground archaeological site near Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
The Complesso di via in Arcione is an underground Roman residential complex buried beneath Rome's streets, preserving four different building types. Excavated structures include a commercial building with shops, a multi-family apartment block, the private rooms of a wealthy household, and paved streets running through the site.
The complex dates from the 2nd to 4th century and was discovered by chance in 1969 during construction of an underground parking lot. Excavations through 1973 revealed construction layers from different periods, showing how the city developed and changed over several centuries.
The marble details and mixed building types show how people of different social classes lived side by side in one area. You can see how a wealthy family separated their rooms from shops and worker apartments nearby.
The site is located beneath the street near Trevi Fountain and sits about 8 meters below ground level on private property. Access is not currently available to visitors as the complex lies hidden under modern buildings above.
Two paved Roman streets cross each other at right angles within the complex, revealing the systematic street grid of the ancient city. This carefully planned layout was typical of Rome's orderly neighborhoods under imperial rule, where streets ran in straight lines.
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